Further details were recently released regarding Thor: The Dark World–the highly anticipated sequel to Kenneth Branagh’s immensely successful Thor adaptation. The sequel will be directed by Alan Taylor (The Sopranos, Mad Men, Game Of Thrones), and reportedly will offer a new and different take on the realm of Asgard–among other things.

Marvel Studios Executive Producer Craig Kyle discussed the film and its director in a recent interview with Empire:

By bringing director Alan Taylor into the mix, with his expertise on ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Game of Thrones,’ we came up with a take that allows us to get more into the nooks and crannies of Asgard and its people. We spend more time on the ground with the commoners, as opposed to in the palace.

Kyle continued on, discussing the nature of the “Superhero Movie”, and the unique appeal of the Thor universe:

Like in Indiana Jones, while there’s high stakes and high danger, there’s always fun. We have to constantly redefine what a superhero film is or it’d just exhaust the audience. So Iron Man is the James Bond-y, classic, suave action hero; Captain America’s the period piece; Hulk is the monster movie; Avengers the disaster movie; and Thor is the science-fiction epic.

It’s a very complicated blend [of genres: high science fiction, gritty fantasy, and realism]. Thor is, until Guardians of the Galaxy hits, by far our most wild, fringe Marvel piece. But that’s why it’s the Marvel Universe and not Marvel Earth!

According to Kyle, Thor: The Dark World begins with a war torn Asgard, and the Nine Realms besieged “by rag-tag invaders known as The Marauders,” led by Mister Sinister. This leads to an opportunistic attack by the Dark Elves, led by Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).

Cool Stuff

Random

A news and entertainment blog for nerd pop culture. We are vulgar, debaucherous, and funny bastards that pilfer the internet (or interwebz, if you like) for the news you need so that you don't have to. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll often shake your fist in an angry fury but your time here is worth the price of admission (which is free for those of you not paying attention)